Since its re-election, the Hungarian government launched a campaign attacking the credibility of Hungarian NGOs and strives to gain controlling power over their funding, currently distributed independently from the government. We believe that a dynamic and independent civil society plays a fundamental role in a democratic society, as it is one of the key checks and balances to governing power. As demonstrated by Putin’s Russia, the harassment of the civil sector could easily lead to the criminalization of NGOs and could effectively hinder their work. We stand in solidarity with the Hungarian NGOs and call on the Hungarian and all other governments to refrain from harassing civil society!
Recommended articles, statements:
http://www.liberties.eu/en/news/putins-methods-against-criticism
http://norvegcivilalap.hu/en/government_attacks_hungarian_NGOs
http://english.atlatszo.hu/2014/06/03/hungarian-govt-targets-ngos-atlatszo-hu-is-also-under-assault/
http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/06/05/dispatches-harassing-civil-society-hungary
